View - LIME Network

Governments and Indigenous people have endorsed a set of headline indicators thatare closely linked to the priority outcomes. Improvements in these indicators wouldprovide strong evidence of progress toward the priority outcomes. However, manyof the headline indicators (such as life expectancy) are long term measures that arenot expected to change rapidly. This raises the question, how can shorter termprogress toward achieving the headline indicators be measured?Sitting beneath the priority outcomes and headline indicators are seven ‘strategicareas for action’. Research shows that focusing efforts in these areas can make adifference in the shorter term. Each strategic area for action is linked to a set ofstrategic change indicators. These indicators are designed to show whether actionsare making a difference, and to identify areas where more attention is needed.The logic behind the framework is that improvements in the strategic areas foraction (measured by the strategic change indicators) will, in time, lead toimprovements in the headline indicators. Improvements in the headline indicatorswill show progress toward the priority outcomes.The elements of the framework are highly inter-related. Actions across a range ofareas might be required to improve a single indicator. But in other cases, a single,well-targeted action can lead to improvements in many indicators.Disadvantage can have multiple causesEmployment is influenced by years 10 and 12 retention and tertiary attainment. These in turnare influenced by school engagement and early child development. Environmental factors suchas substance abuse and families and communities affect all these outcomes, as do the intergenerationaleffects of parental income, employment and education levels.EmploymentYear 10/12 retentionTertiary attainmentEarly school engagementEarly child developmentFamilies and communitiesSubstance abuse8 OVERCOMINGINDIGENOUSDISADVANTAGE 2007